Electric lamp and discharge devices – With luminescent solid or liquid material – With gaseous discharge medium
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-03
2001-10-23
Patel, Ashok (Department: 2879)
Electric lamp and discharge devices
With luminescent solid or liquid material
With gaseous discharge medium
C313S634000, C315S057000, C315S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307316
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There has been renewed interest in the development of fluorescent lamps in the last few years. Numerous new forms and models have come on the market, especially in the field of compact fluorescent bulbs which can be used as replacements for conventional incandescent bulbs in existing lamp assemblies.
Simultaneously with these developments in the field of fluorescent lamps, the use of halogen bulbs has increased enormously. The small size of halogen bulbs results in flexible possibilities for using such bulbs in a variety of applications and has made possible the creation of new lamp construction forms. Halogen lamps have become a construction kit element which makes it possible even for hobbyists to realize their own ideas of new lighting systems.
This possibility has been hitherto absent with respect to fluorescent lamps. The high production costs of fluorescent bulbs compel extreme automatization and prevent a flexible adaptation to wishes of the market.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem addressed by the present invention is to create also for fluorescent lamps a module system similar to a construction kit which makes it possible to form flexible variations for lights of every type.
According to the present invention this problem is solved by providing fluorescent lamps that consist of one or more one-side socketed gas discharge vessels or fluorescent bulbs as lighting elements, and with one or more choke devices constructed as separate units which can be connected with the lighting elements over plug connections, the lighting elements constructed as small standard modules having low light output and having a glass tube diameter of the fluorescent bulbs not over 13 mm, so that they are pluggable singly or in groups into different housings.
The basic idea lies in combining several low-power standard modules, instead of high power gas discharge vessels, which are complicated to manufacture.
The housings can be provided with connecting parts, for example with an Edison winding E
27
or a bayonet socket B
22
, so that they can be used in an existing light body as replacements for conventional incandescent lamps.
For use in new light constructions, it is simpler to provide the housings or the choke devices present in them with electrical connectors specially adapted for this application, for example wire connectors. The use of a specially designed connector to supply current to the lamps not only avoids the costs for the contact-hazardous lamp holders E
27
, but also the installation measurements of the lamps are substantially reduced.
In view of the low output of the individual fluorescent bulbs, it is also possible to substantially reduce the expenditure for the requisite current-limiting choke devices and to provide, according to the invention, a separate choke device for each standard module. Insofar as is appropriate, certain component groups, for example the current supply, can be allocated in common for several connecting devices.
The design used to manufacture the pluggable standard modules should be as economical as possible. According to the invention, therefore, it is recommended that the pluggable connections of the gas discharge vessel be constructed as plug pins which are fused directly to both ends of the gas discharge vessel.
In order to better secure the bulbs or standard modules against dropping out of the lamp fixture or lamp housing, it is further recommended that arresting or locking means be provided to hold the bulbs in place. The arrangement of reflector surfaces, especially with lamps with only one U-shaped gas discharge vessel, improves not only light distribution but can also serve simultaneously as a support for the individual standard light modules after it is plugged into the housing.
In instances where several fluorescent lamps or standard modules are employed, a special advantage of the invention lies in the fact that if one module fails or drops-out, the lamp assembly is capable of continued operation, and later only the faulty module has to be replaced.
If so desired, it is also possible to exchange modules of different form and color in a given lamp without high costs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5128590 (1992-07-01), Holzer
patent: 6020682 (2000-02-01), Holzer
patent: 6054806 (2000-04-01), Holzer
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
Patel Ashok
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